President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan received Dana White, President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in Baku on June 20.
The meeting was officially announced by the Presidential Administration and published on the website of the head of state, Caliber.Az reports.
Dana White expressed his appreciation for the warm hospitality and praised the high level of organisation ahead of the upcoming event.
He thanked President Aliyev for the strong support extended to the UFC and highlighted Azerbaijan’s potential as a new destination on the global mixed martial arts calendar.
President Aliyev welcomed the initiative to bring a UFC tournament to Azerbaijan, noting its significance in strengthening the country’s growing reputation as a hub for international sport.
He expressed confidence that hosting such high-profile events would become a regular occurrence and contribute further to positioning Azerbaijan as a prominent sporting nation.
The conversation also touched on broader developments in Azerbaijani sport. Both sides acknowledged the government’s sustained support for various sporting disciplines and celebrated the recent achievements of Azerbaijani athletes at major international competitions.
President Aliyev particularly emphasised the importance of engaging the younger generation in sport as part of the country’s long-term development strategy.
Concluding the meeting, both President Aliyev and Dana White expressed confidence that the UFC tournament in Baku would be held to the highest standards, in line with Azerbaijan’s proven track record of hosting world-class sporting events.
